Resumo Ressurgências são importantes processos oceanográficos que induzem diversas mudanças nos ecossistemas marinhos, inclusive no acoplamento bento-pelágico (ABP) que desempenha um papel importante nas áreas costeiras. No entanto, existem poucas informações sobre os possíveis efeitos das ressurgências costeiras no papel trófico de predadores e no ABP. Em vista disso, aqui investigamos as possíveis mudanças sazonais e ontogenéticas nas interações tróficas de um predador demersal, o tira-vira Percophis brasiliensis, em um ecossistema com ressurgência. A amostragem foi realizada ao longo de um ano durante dois eventos de ressurgências costeiras. Baseado nas análises de conteúdos estomacais (ACE) foram registradas mudanças sazonais na dieta provavelmente impulsionadas pelas ressurgências costeiras, levando a um aumento de presas pelágicas e alterando as vias de acoplamento trófico. As análises de isótopos estáveis revelaram que o nicho isotópico diminuiu com o tamanho do corpo, assim como os valores do índice de Levin. Além disso, relações significativas e positivas foram observadas entre δ13C e δ15N versus comprimento total. Nossos resultados mostraram que o predador demersal tem um papel trófico relevante no ABP que provavelmente é influenciado por ressurgências costeiras. marinhos bentopelágico bento pelágico (ABP entanto disso tiravira tira vira brasiliensis ressurgência ACE (ACE corpo Levin δC δ C δN N total

Abstract Upwellings are important oceanographic processes that induce several changes in marine ecosystems, including in the benthic-pelagic coupling (BPC) that plays a major role in coastal areas. However, there is little available information about the possible effects of coastal upwellings on the trophic role of predators and in the BPC. Thus, here we investigate possible seasonal and ontogenetic changes in the trophic interaction of a demersal predator, the Brazilian flathead Percophis brasiliensis, from an upwelling ecosystem. Sampling was carried out for one year during two coastal upwelling events. Based on stomach content analysis (SCA) were recorded seasonal diet shifts, probably driven by coastal upwellings, leading to an increase in pelagic prey and changing the trophic coupling pathways. Stable isotope analysis revealed that isotopic niche decreased with the body size, as well as the values of the Levins’ index. Also, significant, and positive relationships were observed between δ13C and δ15N versus total length. Our results showed that the demersal predator has a relevant trophic role in the BPC which is probably influenced by coastal upwellings. ecosystems benthicpelagic benthic (BPC areas However Thus brasiliensis ecosystem events SCA (SCA shifts pathways size Levins index Also significant δC δ C δN N length

Abstract The weakfishes, Cynoscion guatucupa and C. jamaicensis, are important demersal fishery resources and are targeted by multifleet operations in the Southwest Atlantic. This study describes the length-weight relationships between sagittae otoliths (length-OL, height-OH, thickness-OT, and weight-OWT) and the sizes of the fish (total length-LT, standard length-LS, and total weight-WT). The proportion between otolith length and height (aspect ratio-OAR) was also compared between species. The samples were obtained monthly from March 2017 to February 2018 from small-scale commercial fisheries from landings of bottom trawls and gillnets on the continental shelf in the Rio de Janeiro state, southeastern coast of Brazil. The ANCOVA did not indicate significant diferences in relative growth between sexes for both species (p > 0.05) while the length frequency was diferent (p < 0.001). Cynoscion guatucupa showed positive allometry, WT = 4E-06LT3.21 and C. jamaicensis negative allometry, WT = 2E-05LT2.90 (p < 0.05). Both species showed diferences in the condition factor between the sexes (p < 0.05). Significant diferences were observed in the measurements of the otoliths between the two species (p < 0.001). All regressions between fish measurements and otolith morphometry were highly significant (p < 0.001) for both species. The best estimates of fish size and weight were related to the otolith length: OL vs LT (r2 = 0.93; 0.96); OL vs LS (r2 = 0.92; 0.96); OL vs WT (r2 = 0.91; 0.93) for C. guatucupa and C. jamaicensis, respectively. This information adds useful biological data for multiple types of studies, e.g., food ecology (prey-predator), age and growth, reproduction, fisheries assessment and long-term landing monitoring. Our results confrmed the historical pattern of relative growth, supporting that otolith growth reflects the somatic growth of weakfishes in the study area, reinforcing the importance to determine these reference points.

Abstract In Brazil, the White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus is distributed in the midwest, south and southeast but breeding information is scarce. In this study, species breeding information in the country was compiled from online platform (WikiAves, eBird) and literature. A case study describing nests and egg biometry were reported in Restinga of Jurubatiba National Park (RJNP), on the north cost of Rio de Janeiro state, as well potential threats to the species. Sampling was carried out in September and December 2018, monthly in 2019 and between January to March and September to December in 2020. Overall, 70 breeding records were compiled, between 1997 and November 2021, being 64 from WikiAves in all regions of Brazil, four records from eBird in São Paulo state (in 2021) and two records in literature (one from São Paulo state, in 2007 and one from Rio de Janeiro in 2012). In RJNP, 44 nests were identified being 34 active, with an average of 3.5 eggs per nest, and overall 118 eggs were measured. The main materials used to build the nests were the saltmarsh plant and mud. Around 60% of nests were degraded or predated. Predation was the main cause of egg loss. Successful nests (with chicks or hatching signs) represented 26% of the total nests monitored. This study reports the first information on the biometry of the species’ eggs and nests, confirming the northern coast of Rio de Janeiro state as a nesting area for the species.

Abstract The Gray-hooded Gull (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus) is a seabird distributed in almost all South American countries. However, breeding information on the species in Brazil is scarce. In this study, a literature review and searches in online databases (WikiAves and eBird) were carried out to gather breeding information on the species in the country and new records of nests of the Gray-hooded Gull were registered on the northern coast of the Rio de Janeiro state. Literature review indicated breeding records in Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Norte states. On WikiAves, 19 records of the species with nests, eggs, chicks and breeding colonies were reported between 2009 and 2020, in Macau, Rio Grande do Norte and one adult hatching at Rio Grande do Sul. In August 2019, two nests were recorded at Ubatuba lagoon (22°09′S and 41°18′W) in the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park, in the Quissamã municipality in Rio de Janeiro. The nests were described and monitored during five weeks. Each nest contained two eggs and was built with the grass Paspalum vaginatum. Over time, the eggs were degraded and disappeared from the nests, without signs of hatching and possible predation. This study compiles for the first time all the breeding information on the species in Brazil and contributes with data about nests and egg biometry.